Bound in Lies

Confused

"Good morning, Sweetie!" his mouth curved into a smile when he saw me coming down the stairs.

A smile tugged at my lips when I heard Dad's voice, my day hasn't even started yet but it seems to be complete. Dad is just like that, that's why I'm closer to him than Mommy. Well, I'm also close to Mom but not the same way I feel about Dad. I greeted Dad with a huge hug and kissed him on the cheek and then I approached Mom.

"Good morning!" I smiled genuinely at them. Then I immediately went straight to the seat in front of Mom, Dad was on my left side.

"I'm already starving," I added as I sat in the chair. Nakakagutom naman kasi ang mga nakahain ngayong umaga, sino ba naman 'di magugutom kung pababa ka pa lang sa hagdan ay malalanghap mo na ang amoy ng mga pagkain.

"I know Sweetie, that's why I told Tes to cook your favorite breakfasts," he winked at me and resumed eating.

I chuckled while taking food, "So thoughtful!"

Agad na hinanap ng mga mata ko si Ate Tes, siya ang cooked namin. Sa katunayan, siya ang paborito kong taga-luto dito sa pamamahay na ito. She has been serving our family for a long time, I don't remember exactly but that was my elementary days when she applied as cooked because Mom doesn't know how to cook that's why. Sa aking paghahanap ay 'di ko siya nakita, baka busy kaya mamaya ko na lang siya pasasalamatan.

Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang mga pagkaing nakahain, may fried rice, bacon, sunny-

side-up at iba pa. At halos lahat nito ay paborito ko. Kung minsan pa nga'y pag gising ko, isang bouquet ng mga bulaklak ang sasalubong sa 'kin. It was like all day long butterflies were playing in my stomach because of that. Dad, the first man I love in my life, and nothing else can change that. My lips seemed to have a mind of their own and spontaneously formed a smile because of the thought.

I barely looked to my right, I remembered suddenly. Where is Ate? My smiles faded and it was replaced by a strange sadness. I won't ask them where she is anymore because they will answer me the same way when I'm looking for Ate and maybe because of that question Mom or Dad's mood will change.

I rarely saw Ate and for almost a month she only joined us at the dinner table once. She is my sister but in our situation it seems not, I don't know what the problem is or what is happening to her. Halos gabi-gabi akong tumitingin sa langit, nagdadasal at humihiling na sana magbago ang ihip ng hangin para makausap ko siya, na sana maramdaman ko ang pakiramdam ng may kapatid.

"Mom, Dad, I have to leave," I sigh, I suddenly remembered the kids. I promised them for today and maybe they're looking for me now.

Agad na napabaling sa 'kin si Mom, "Why too early? Hindi pa oras ng pasok mo anak," she lifted an eyebrow.

"Is your daughter not allowed to leave? She is no longer a child," Dad's sudden groan that I was a bit surprised. He also immediately resumed eating while no emotion could be seen on his face.

"I'm sor-," I couldn't finish what I was going to say because Mom cut it off.

"All right Tygann, you can leave," ramdam ko ang ibang awra ni Mom ngayon. What's wrong? She just crouched down while looking at what was being eaten and her emotions were cold.

"I'm sorry po," I could do nothing but get up from my seat and walk out of the house.

I couldn't even explain what I wanted to say dahil sa naging palitan nila ng mga salita. I just kept quiet because it might get worse and cause something. I understand, maybe they have a problem to face. But I'm also not sure if the problem is about the company or their relationship and I don't have the right to interfere because it's rude. May tiwala akong babalik din sila sa dati, even though I have noticed that such situations are becoming more frequent.

When I got out of the house I went to our car, as usual, Kuya Peto opened the door for me. He is my driver and like Ate Tes, he was here when I was in elementary school, he is my assigned driver and companion wherever I go. He's also like a bodyguard to me, because Dad has the order for that. So even if I refused there was nothing I could do. Minsan pa nga'y inasar ako sa school, pero wala naman akong nakikitang masama para sa bagay na iyon.

The trip took less than an hour when we arrived and it wasn't boring in the car because I could talk to Kuya Peto also it's not far from where we live. As I got out of the car, Kuya Peto opened the door for me again. As I descended my eyes immediately sought the entrance of the orphanage, I could see it from the parking lot where I was standing. And besides, I could also clearly see a few children sobbing as tears trickled down their cheeks. What happened?

I hurried to walk to where they were because I was worried about them, I almost tripped because I was wearing black shoes with low heels. But unexpectedly, the atmosphere seemed to stop when I heard the rumbling noise that shattered not only my hearing but also my sight. A rumbling noise came from the car that until now still had not stopped, I was just statuesque on the stand when I saw the direction of the vehicle.

It was towards the place where I was standing.

A deafening silence enveloped the surroundings at those times. And in my mind, this is what will end my life. But as if I was being toyed with by what, I felt nothing like a car crash but my rapid fall to the ground. Nanatili akong nakapikit at pinapakiramdaman ang kapaligiran.

"Ma'am Tygann!"

"Tumawag kayo ng ambulance!"

"Ate Talia, Ate!"

"Tulungan niyo silang dalawa!"

"Patay na ba sila?"

The earlier silence was replaced by the voices of the people in this place. Gradually my brain processed the last screams I heard.

Sila?

I was dazed, but the people I expected around were the first I would see. But no, I first saw a black leather jacket worn by a man tightly hugging me. I found out he was male because of the smell of masculine perfume. I can’t move properly because I’m trapped in this man’s arms, I can’t understand how I feel but why do I feel like I’m safe? I just buried my face in his chest, pakiramdam ko'y mawawalan ako ng malay.

"I can feel your fear, you're a little trembling," napatigil ako nang marinig ang mahinahong bulong ng lalaking ito.

Why do I feel like he's not someone else?

Even though I wanted to speak, I couldn't because I seemed to have lost my voice due to the incident.

"Don't be afraid, you're safe as long as I'm here."

And that's how I felt, I was left speechless when he finally let go of his tight embrace with me. I was no longer able to see his face because he slowly stood up and walked away from me as if nothing had happened.

"Ma'am! Parating na po ang ambulansya!" Kuya Peto's worried voice immediately prevailed.

He helped me sit up, while the children and the staff there approached me with first aid kits and bottled mineral water.

"Ma'am, lalapatan po muna namin kayo ng paunang lunas habang hindi pa dumadating ang ambulansya," said Kuya guard, if I'm not mistaken he is the one assigned in the morning here at the orphanage.

They didn't even have to take me to the hospital. I looked at both my arms, scratches and blood stains I saw. There were also wounds inflicted on my leg, I’m not sure if that’s just because I can’t move properly. I suddenly remember the man who saved me earlier, he should be taken to the hospital and not me because he almost caught the pain that I should feel.

"Hindi na kailangan Kuya, they're just nothing!" I smiled back at him to somehow alleviate the tension.

"Naku! Hindi ho ma'am, mayayari ako kay sir kapag may nangyaring hindi maganda sa iyo," but I failed to convince him. Patuloy pa rin ito sa pagtingin ng kaniyang phone at ang pag-aabang ng ambulansya.

"Please? I'm begging you, I'll face Dad in case he scolds you," I convinced again as I pressed my two palms together.

Kuya just sighed when he agreed. He just helped me stand up and he and the people there decided that I would be taken inside the orphanage so that the few wounds I had sustained could be treated. I don't like the hospital, I don't like the smell of the hospital as if I have an allergy when I hear that I don't know why.

When we entered, they made me sit on a long couch in the waiting area of the orphanage. Each of them brought things that would be used to treat my wounds. They all offered to take care of me, but I declined some of them because I could do it, and it was too embarrassing for them. They gave me a basin of water and I washed my wounds, so they wouldn't get infected, then they handed me Betadine and cotton for quick wound healing.

My bad luck today because I'm wearing a plain black dress with no sleeves, and it's knee-length. So my legs and arms had no protection. Because I'm comfortable when I'm wearing a dress, just in case I don't want to wear it again because of what happened. Maybe next time I won't just get scars.

Suddenly I was terrified of my last thought, next time? Why did I say that thing, it was just an accident and such an event will never happen again! I will be even more careful when crossing the road with traffic, so there is no next.

When we finished healing my wounds, I immediately decided to go to the children’s area because I didn’t want to break my promise that I would play with them when I got here. At first, they didn't want to let me, they just made me sit or send me home, but I insisted because I was fine. It's far from my gut, hindi ko naman ito ikamamatay kung gagawin ko ang ipinunta ko dito.

The children were so anxious when they approached me, I almost fell to the ground when they greeted me with a hug. This is why I love staying here, I love the hugs I get with these kids. I feel like all the negatives are disappearing in my body.

"Ate, kumusta ka po? Gwabi aman po 'yong kotse, usto mo po ba bugbog namin 'yon?" Kite turned to me in tears, she is the sweetest girl here.

My heart rejoiced to see how she reacted when she said that. She looks old when she thinks even if the word is slurred. She remained standing in front of me while stroking my hair, I in turn sat on the furry mat on the floor with the other children who continued to hug me.

"Kids, listen to me. Ayos lang si Ate Talia niyo, I'm strong kaya!" I raised both my arms while laughing showing the muscle like a superhero.

I did everything I could to get rid of the kids asking me about what happened, they shouldn’t have been exposed to such things yet because they were too young. All they have to do is play and not have a problem with anything. I decided to leave when they were all right.

I told Kuya Peto that we should go straight home first because I forgot to bring other things for school and another one is that I want to take a bath again and change my clothes. I didn't want to go to school with some broken clothes and my body was full of dust because of what happened.

When I got home some of our staff at home were surprised when they saw me, but I gave an excuse, I went to the second floor of our house where my room was. In the middle of my walk towards the bedroom suddenly something caught my attention in a room. Rinig ko ang mga boses na mistulang aso't pusang nagbabangayan. Hindi ako maaaring magkamali, Mom and Dad.

I knew it was wrong, but I seemed to lose my sanity when I applied my ear to the door of the room where their voice was coming from. Many questions were forming in my mind at these times, but when I listened I could only hear Mom sobbing. Unfortunately, I hear a startling crash of something coming from inside.

"Ang kapal ng mukha mo, tingin sayo ng iba ay kagalang-galang pero ang totoo ay isa kang animal!"